This type of album brings on the eternal debate: why fix a masterpiece if it ain’t broke? This is definitely the kind of metaphysical interrogation that you could ask when listening to A Brand New Me: Aretha Franklin With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The idea is simple: take the vocals from the mythical recordings by the great soul singer for the label Atlantic in the ‘60s and ‘70s and place them on new arrangements performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Recorded in the Abbey Road studios in London, all the classics including Respect, Think, Don’t Play That Song (You Lied) and I Say A Little Prayer resonate here in a symphonic version. We find Nick Patrick and Don Reedman hiding behind the creation, the same producers who conceived If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Some will find this scandalous. Others, rather futile. And others will enjoy this new staging of careful arrangements that at least has the merit of not damaging the heart of this nuclear powerhouse of groove: the voice of Aretha Franklin herself.

Tracklist

1 Think (with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) 2:54
2 Don’t Play That Song (You Lied) [with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra] 2:56
3 I Say A Little Prayer (with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) 4:18
4 Until You Come Back To Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do) [with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra] 3:30
5 A Brand New Me (with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) 4:19
6 (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman [with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra] 3:36
7 Angel (with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) 4:42
8 Border Song (Holy Moses) [with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra] 3:24
9 Let It Be (with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) 3:34
10 People Get Ready (with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) 4:03
11 Oh Me Oh My (I’m A Fool For You Baby) [with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra] 4:18
12 You’re All I Need To Get By (with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) 3:59
13 Son Of A Preacher Man (with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) 3:29
14 Respect (with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) 2:37